Can I refer eBay users to my website for products/services not available via Ebay?

[westside_ev]

I have an eBay storefront and a website. The eBay storefront contains products and accessories for DIY purposes only.

My website sells the same products and accessories but offers additional services not available via our eBay storefront. The eBay system isn't set up or ideal for these services, so I do not offer them there.  

If an eBay user messages me to inquire about a service that I offer exclusively via my website, am I allowed to refer them to my website? Is there a way to make them aware of said services while adhering to eBay's policies?

I.e., My About page includes a link to my website and a blurb about how the eBay storefront is focused on DIY products only.  Can I also state there that additional services can be found on my website and refer the customer to my About page?

Thanks.

[slippinjimmy]

No, absolutely not.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/listing-policies/links-policy?id=4248

Keep in mind eBay's definition of a "link" includes active, non-active, incomplete, contained in images or any other type of trick to avoid the policy.

[wastingtime101]

No. You cannot put that info on your listings, on your store or in eBay messages. In fact, it's a policy violation to include your website on your store about page.

About the only thing you can do is include your website on a business card, packing slip or thank you that you put inside each physical package you ship.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/payment-policies/offers-buy-sell-outside-ebay-policy?id=4272

[bashort]

You can not add any contact info to a listing but you can set up a website and facebook page with the same name as your store

[farmalljr]

You can't use eBay's platform or message system to direct sales offsite of eBay.

However! Many people will include advertisements for their website or other places of business, IN the box that they ship the buyer's purchase in. About half of my purchases have something in the package showing me how I can buy from the seller on their website or social media page. Sometimes they are just a business card, sometimes it's a postcard, sometimes a printout of some sort. 

[kensgiftshop]

You need to remove your web site address from your descriptions, before bay does.

[go-bad-chicken]

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@westside_ev wrote:

I have an eBay storefront and a website. The eBay storefront contains products and accessories for DIY purposes only.

My website sells the same products and accessories but offers additional services not available via our eBay storefront. The eBay system isn't set up or ideal for these services, so I do not offer them there.  

If an eBay user messages me to inquire about a service that I offer exclusively via my website, am I allowed to refer them to my website? Is there a way to make them aware of said services while adhering to eBay's policies?

I.e., My About page includes a link to my website and a blurb about how the eBay storefront is focused on DIY products only.  Can I also state there that additional services can be found on my website and refer the customer to my About page?

Thanks.

---

Yes and No.

If your DIY products included a link to your website and provided plausible "legal required information", then yes. With that said do realize that EBay's crawlers are going to discover those links fairly quickly so if it were me I'd make sure that my ducks were in a row and that that information was some how legally required. 

You could also host a product video on your website for your DIY item. 

• Links in a description are only allowed for the following:
  • Other eBay pages (eBay Messages, other eBay items, Stores pages, Follow Seller or Add to my Favorite Sellers)
  • Product videos
  • Freight shipping services approved by eBay
  • Legally required information
  • Credit for third-party providers

[stainlessenginecovers]

@westside_ev 

As stated by @kensgiftshop you need to remove your website info from your descriptions (but with 1 VERY important caveat) ....

Remove them before you are COMPLETELY REMOVED from being able to EVER sell on ebay again!! 

[byrd69er]

You can, but not for long....if you know what I mean.

[chariot_badges]

I remember going to my lawyer once with a great idea.

I mean, it was a money-maker.  Hands down.

He listened and asked me why I was checking with him.  

Well, it's because I want to make sure that it's legal, right?
"So you got a feeling that it's not legal?"

~ (He's a good lawyer)

"Listen.  Don't do it. OK?"

I argued.  Pointed out all the reasons it should be ok.  He agreed with my arguments and assured me he'd use them, and more.

"Then do it.  And, we will get a final determination from a judge as to what you did.  If you win, you go on to get rich. If you lose ... you do five years.  But, rest assured that I will defend you to your last dime."

~ (He's an honest lawyer)

I didn't do it.

[westside_ev]

Thanks for all the replies, but I'm not talking about linking to my website from any of my listings. I understand I can include a card in physical packages, but they must purchase a physical product first.

The specific scenario I am asking about is if an eBay user sends me a message asking if I can provide them with an intangible service I offer exclusively via my website. E.g., modify/repair an electric motor/controller. This is a service I provide only to locals who bring their motor to me directly. In this case, I'm neither "promoting" nor "moving" a sale off eBay, which is what the policy's wording seems to prohibit. In this scenario, how should I respond to the user?

Do I have to say,  "No, sorry, I can't help you"? Or could I say, "Yes, but I don't offer this service via eBay," and leave it at that,  hoping they'll figure it out? Or could I even say, "Yes, but unfortunately, eBay policy prevents me from referring you to my website"? 

Can I refer them to a YouTube video about the service they are inquiring about if I don't have a corresponding listing on eBay? What if I make a corresponding listing on eBay that's $.99, and I just send them a business card and then refund them? 

My goal is to figure out a way to help the user that satisfies the eBay policy while keeping everyone safe.

[wastingtime101 · Accepted solution]

You could reply and say something like:

Our company offers that type of service locally to customers that physically bring in their product for modification or repair. It is not a service we are able to offer through eBay due to the global reach of the site.

Leave it at that.

If buyer pushes for more info say something like:

I apologize I cannot provide more details on services our company offers outside eBay as that would violate eBay's policy.

If buyer has common sense they will Google your company and figure it out.

[kensgiftshop]

The way you have your web site link entered in your listings, I think you already know the answer.

[wastingtime101]

Seller should remove this from their listings:

We also offer a no-hassle SDU jailbreaking service via mail. Visit the services section for more info.

[westside_ev]

Thanks, I removed all instances.